Parents and coaches urge Johns Creek to keep North Atlanta Cricket Academy as recreation partner

Residents, coaches and parents urged the Johns Creek City Council on May 11 to continue partnering with the North Atlanta Cricket Academy (NACA) as the city develops its recreation programs. Sridhar Taresina, who identified himself as a Johns Creek resident, told the council that NACA "is more than a cricket academy. It is a community" and said the program keeps participation costs low so "no child is turned away due to financial hardship."

Venkat Gurapadi, speaking on behalf of cricket parents, thanked the council for installing cricket pitches at Cauley Creek and Shake Rock Park and said NACA has run organized cricket in Johns Creek "for five years," first working directly with the city and later as a preferred partner of the Johns Creek Athletic Association. He asked the council, as it designs future recreation plans, to "continue to use NACA as a partner running and leading the programs." A coach and parent who identified himself as Ashish also spoke in support, saying NACA serves "hundreds of children" and that parents and volunteers commit significant time to coach and run the program.

Why it matters: supporters said NACA provides consistent coaching, facility stewardship and scheduling know-how that can broaden access while preserving field quality. Council members listened and did not take immediate action on program administration at the meeting; the remarks were part of the public-comment record.